What's your opinion on carat size ? Bigger the better?
I would like to her it from a girl's perspective
Hmm, there are always exceptions to the norm, but imo, bigger is better lah (provided everything else is already fantastic), if the finances can take it without going into debt. Yeah, you can always upgrade later, but it wouldn't be the ring that he proposed with, if you get what I mean? Knowing that he gave me the best he can is important to me. Let's say, a guy earns 10k per month (mostly disposable income, no other financial commitments to family). If he spent only 3k on the ring, I think any girl would feel at least a bit slighted. However, if a guy earns 1k a month, and he spent 3k on the ring, I'd feel like he would really do his best to love me & dote on me for the rest of his life. Of course, some people will say that it's really materialistic, but I think any girl would agree that they feel absolutely adored. (They may say they won't, but see how they change their tune when they experience it for themselves.) Another thing is that girls don't like other girls to put down their guy. It really hurt for my friend who was teased about her not so nice .2 diamond. She understands that he had a limited budget, but it still bothered her enough for her to admit it to me.
I have to note though, there are girls who don't like or cannot wear big diamonds. In that case, my advise would be to upgrade on clarity & color. In these cases, it's not so much about the size but the thought & cost that went into it. Another option would be for the guy to present her with 2 rings, one with a smaller, more plain design for everyday wear, & a maxed out one. For these people, I think a proposal ring & an engagement (pair) ring would be a good idea. It really pays to know one's prospective fiancee.
Guys can blame it on De Beers for their marketing on their pretty yet practically worthless rocks, but the fact is that girls love to feel adored & beloved. This want is not something that didn't already exist. (Though probably it would be more practical to present gold bars & a house for a proposal. LOL)
I guess what I'm trying to say is that a guy can never go wrong with giving 100% in getting the proposal ring, be it a poorly cut .1 J color or the most brilliant 5ct D in Singapore. It's really the thought, effort & love that goes into the ring that counts.
When my FI severely reduced his expenditure to give me that diamond, the gesture said to me, "I will gladly give you the best I can afford even if it means I need to cut back on myself. You will never go without." It's been years since my godmother received her diamond, & she put it in a deposit box at the bank as they are in-between houses right now, but just looking at the key reminds her of how it made it her feel so treasured & loved. Of course, he treats her well in daily life too. =)
(I'm not judging those guy who don't spend a few K on their diamonds though they can, btw. Male & female brains think really differently, and I didn't think of it that way until just this month. I'm sure their FIs are happy with whatever they received as long as it's from them.)
